By Ehi Ekhator
The Makarfi faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as outrageous and anti-democratic, the arrest of the former governor of Jigawa State, Alh Sule Lamido.
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Lamido was arrested and detained on Sunday on the allegation of inciting the general public.
In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye stated that the former governor was only arrested for a political reason. Adeyeye alleged that his arrest was connected to the forthcoming Local Government election in the state.
The PDP Secretary also connect the arrest of the former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswan to the same election which would be taken place in his state, adding that the APC led government is fast loosing confidence in the hands of the people for its non-performance.
The party also reminded that President Muhammadu Buhari had made several inciting statements during the 2011 and 2015 general election without getting arrested.
Adeyeye said”The true reason for his arrest however, has to do with the forthcoming Local Government Elections in Jigawa State. The long incarceration of former Governor Gabriel Suswan is also linked to the forthcoming LGA Elections in Benue State.
“The APC led Administration is fast loosing the confidence of the people because of its non-performance, high handedness and lack of empathy for the suffering of the people. The only option left for it is to prevent the opposition from effectively campaigning and mobilizing the people for the Elections. The whole strategy of the failed APC Government is founded on the assumption that if there is no opposition, then they cannot be defeated. Hence the intimidation, harassment and incarceration of popular opposition leaders like Sule Lamido. We are aware that, we in the opposition will be in for a hard time in the Run-up to the 2019 General Elections with more arrests and intimidation of our prominent leaders.
“President Muhammadu Buhari before the 2011 General Elections made several inciting statements against the rigging of the elections with grave consequences thereafter. He was never arrested nor detained.
“Nigerians cannot also forget some inciting statements credited to President Buhari ahead of the 2015 General Elections. Especially, General Buhari while addressing Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) members in Niger State incited his audience in Hausa language that translates thus, “…If what happened in 2011 should again happen in 2015, by the grace of God, the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood.’’ For this statement and others as well, he was never invited, arrested or detained by any of the security agencies under the PDP Administration. It was not a sign of weakness by the PDP led Government. It was in deference to freedom of speech, democracy and peace.”
Adeyeye, in the statement, accused the APC government of harrassing the opposition, bloggers, judges with police, DSS and EFCC.
“The APC has today unleashed the Nigerian Police, the DSS and the EFCC to harass and intimidate Court Judges, opposition leaders, social media influencers/bloggers and other Nigerians that speaks against the APC led federal or state governments on fabricated charges just to cow them. Gov Lamido merely asked the people to defend their votes against rigging. How is that a crime? If you are not planning to steal the peoples’ votes, why should you be afraid if the people are advised to defend their votes? Of course, no thief would want the owner to guide his house against burglary.
“The excesses of the security agencies has now reached alarming proportions. If they must be reminded, their mandate is to defend all Nigerians and not to act as a willing instrument of oppression of the people by the authocratic APC Government.” He said.
PDP called on the security agencies in the Country to release unconditionally, Lamido, Suswam, Former Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, and all other political detainees in their custody, reminding that Nigeria is in a democracy and not a Gestapo State.
The party also called on members of the international community to call the APC government particularly the overexcited and autocratic APC Governors to order.
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